Gillian Bennett (1969, History) has featured on BBC Radio 4 programme Document in an episode called ‘The Hague Warning’.

The episode, which aired on Monday 11 August at 8pm, looked at why Britain failed to act on a 1939 intelligence communication which gave seven weeks advance warning of Germany’s intention to invade Poland. The intelligence was supplied by a German agent working for Britain.

Gillian Bennett, former head of historians at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, addressed the Somerville London Group on 6 June at the Oxford & Cambridge Club, in a talk entitled ‘Six Moments of Crisis: Inside British Foreign Policy’.

‘The Hague Warning’ can be listened to on the BBC website.

Further reading?

Professor Patricia Owens awarded Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship

Learn More
23 January 2026
Professor Patricia Owens awarded Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship

The Richard Stone Scholarship in Engineering

Learn More
22 January 2026
The Richard Stone Scholarship in Engineering

I Carry Sudan with Me: Somerville’s Newest Sanctuary Scholars

Learn More
22 January 2026
I Carry Sudan with Me: Somerville’s Newest Sanctuary Scholars